ROBBIE Keane would favour a move to Villa if they can strike a deal with Tottenham for the Republic of Ireland captain.

Martin O’Neill is a long-term admirer of Keane who will be surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane next season.

And the 29-year-old striker has indicated to friends that he would be interested in leaving Spurs to join Villa.

Keane would welcome a return to the West Midlands where he still has roots after making his name at Wolves.

And he would relish playing alongside international team-mate Richard Dunne for club as well as country.

Dunne revealed in his native Ireland last month that he has spoken to Keane about the possibility of moving to Villa.

But Blues and Sunderland have also expressed an interest in snapping up the well-travelled attacker.

And with Keane turning 30 next week, Villa are reluctant to pay over the odds for a player with little sell-on potential.

Any deal would therefore hinge on Spurs dropping their original asking price to less than £10 million, which is a strong possibility.

Keane has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham behind Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko and spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic, who were keen to sign him on a permanent basis but could not afford the transfer fee and wages.

Keane is anxious to continue playing at the highest level and would view moving from Champions League newcomers Spurs to top-four rivals Villa as a sideways rather than backwards step.

Meanwhile, former claret and blue favourite Chris Nicholl believes manager O’Neill has got a job for life at Villa Park if he wants it.

Roy Hodgson’s official unveiling as Liverpool’s new manager yesterday put paid to early speculation linking O’Neill to Anfield.

And Nicholl believes Villa can now go forward with former Northern Ireland team-mate O’Neill without fear of him being poached.

“I’m glad all the uncertainty which seemed to be surrounding Martin towards the end of last season has been cleared up,” said Nicholl.

“There was a lot of talk that he might quit and then there was talk that he would go to Liverpool and that kind of thing can be unsettling.

“There was obviously something not right last season, but Martin and the chairman look like they’ve sorted that out now.

“He’s done a great job at Villa and there’s no reason why that can’t continue.

“I can’t see Manchester United or England or anyone coming in for Martin now – I think they’ll go for Jose Mourinho.

“So if he keeps making the progress he has been at Villa he could have a job for life.”